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Former Prosecutor

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Former State Prosecutor and Criminal Trial Attorney

Former State Prosecutor

Former Atlantic County Prosecutor

Certified Criminal Trial Attorney

Experienced for over 35 years

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Skilled Atlantic City Attorney Fights DWI with Accident Offenses throughout New Jersey


If you get caught driving while intoxicated, it goes without saying that you are going to have to answer for it in court. If convicted you will likely lose your license and more. However, if you also injure someone during the process, the stakes will be even higher. DWI with accident charges are very serious and require the help of a skilled criminal defense attorney with extensive experience in this particular area. DWI with an accident that causes serious injury can quickly escalate to an Assault by Auto charge, which is a crime in the third degree. If the accident occurred in a school zone, it gets even worse. You could end up being charged with a second degree crime and spending 10 years in a maximum security prison. As you can see, small variations in circumstances can have a significant impact on the outcome of your case. Do not try to go it alone.

The simple fact that you caused an accident when you were driving drunk will make the judge look more harshly on your DWI charges, whether or not serious injury occurred. If you are facing DWI with accident charges, it is essential that you hire an experienced criminal defense attorney without delay. Attorney John W. Tumelty is a former prosecutor who knows how the other side thinks. He will put that knowledge and his more than 35 years of experience handling all types of criminal cases, from traffic violations to murder, to work for you. He will fight hard to protect your rights and keep you out of jail.

Criminal Defense Lawyer Defends Your DWI with Accident Offense in Atlantic, Ocean and Cape May Counties and Across New Jersey

In this country alone, 40 percent of auto-related injuries are caused by an intoxicated driver. The most common reason? Falling asleep at the wheel while intoxicated. Many of these accidents are fatal for either the intoxicated driver or others in the car, or in another vehicle. A list of common DWI accidents is below:

  • Falling asleep behind the wheel and crashing or running off the road
  • Rear-ending a car because of inability to correctly perceive distance
  • Hitting a car in the other lane because of difficulty remaining in one lane
  • Not noticing signage; most commonly not yielding when supposed to and driving into oncoming traffic

It is also not uncommon for intoxicated drivers to purposely take back roads in an attempt to avoid other cars. These back roads tend to be darker and more wooded. For this reason, many DWI accidents occur when the intoxicated driver runs into a tree, telephone pole, barn or house.

The first thing a skilled attorney will do when reviewing your case is to determine if your Constitutional rights were violated during the process. If your rights were violated, some or all of the evidence may be thrown out, resulting in a dismissal of your case. If the evidence is admissible, there is also the possibility of alternative sentencing options, such as the Pre-Trial Intervention program (PTI) which provides rehabilitation services rather than jail time. Mr. Tumelty has significant experience with DWI cases and his experience as a former prosecutor gives him valuable insight into their tactics. He knows how to get charges reduced, or even dismissed. If it looks like your case is going to trial, Mr. Tumelty knows how to position you to achieve the best possible outcome.

If You’ve Been Charged with DWI Involving an Accident, Contact John W. Tumelty Today

When your driving privileges and freedom are on the line, you need a seasoned DWI criminal defense lawyer who understands these charges and how to beat them. He will use his 35 years of experience to skillfully and aggressively fight your charges. Mr. Tumelty serves clients in Cape May, Brigantine, Margate, Longport, Ventnor, Wildwood, Little Egg Harbor, Ocean Township and throughout New Jersey. Contact him today for a consultation by phone or in one of his three offices in Atlantic City, Marmora or Somers Point, NJ.

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